Scheme that spared beaches from major pollution shines at North East awards

A coastal landfill remediation scheme that prevented 1,000 tonnes of pollutants from reaching local beaches and the sea has been named a winner at the 2025 Robert Stephenson Awards.

Lynemouth Coastal Landfill Remediation protected the environment from colliery spoil, plastics, rubber tubing, hazardous materials and asbestos-containing materials.

These efforts saw the Northumberland-based project take home the contested Medium Category Robert Stephenson Award.

Fifteen shortlisted projects competed to win one of the prestigious civil engineering awards.

The annual dinner and ceremony, sponsored by long running supporter CDM Recruitment Ltd, took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newcastle on Thursday 10 April.

Close to 300 guests came together to represent the vibrant civil engineering profession in the region.

Project awards

New for 2025: the Technical Excellence Award

The new category aims to recognise teams demonstrating excellence in the decarbonisation of civil engineering and the infrastructure sector.

The winner for 2025 is Driving Down Capital through Collaboration, Northumbrian Water’s capital carbon five-point plan.

The judges said this is a remarkable and bold strategy that demonstrates exemplary collaboration between the client and suppliers.

It highlights the shared responsibility and commitment all parties have shown in pursuing mutual and long-term goals aimed at decarbonisation.

This approach – delivered by Stantec, Esh, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), Avove, Jacobs and Galliford Try for Northumbrian Water Group – shows the value of fostering enduring partnerships for sustainability.

The winning team is eligible for the prestigious ICE Brunel Medal.

Small Category Project Award

The Roman Army Museum Magna Activity Extension took home the Small Category Award for projects costing less than £1 million.

It was delivered by BT Bell Consulting Engineers and Cubby Construction for the Vindolanda Trust alongside Doonan Architects, QS Dimensions and Sine Consulting.

The judges thought this was a great example of a collaborative project with clear social and heritage value.

They commended the adoption of sustainable features such as heat pumps, draining and a daylight sensitive lighting system.

Medium Category Project Award

The Medium Category Award is for projects costing between £1 - £5 million.

The winner, Lynemouth Coastal Landfill Remediation, was delivered for Northumberland County Council by Royal Haskoning DHV, Atkins Realis, Olive Compliance, BAM Nuttall, BAM Ritchies, Thompsons of Prudhoe, Mabey Hire and the Mining Remediation Authority.

Lynemouth Bay historically experienced extensive tipping of colliery spoil and other waste materials throughout the 20th century, affecting the local beaches.

The tipping of over 30 million tonnes of colliery spoil was recorded in Lynemouth Bay from 1934 until 2005. This resulted in a ‘blackening’ of the beaches and the creation of an artificial shore extending landwards of its natural position.

The judges were impressed by this Northumberland County Council-led voluntary waste management scheme to reduce the pollution being released from the eroding beaches and cliffs.

Large Category Project Award

The winner of the Large Category Award for projects costing over £5 million was Springwell Pipeline by Mott MacDonald Bentley for the Northumbrian Water Group.

The judges praised the project’s use of machine technology, innovative techniques and forward planning which helped accelerate the programme.

It provided great work placement opportunities and collaboration with National Highways in relation to the crossing of the A194.

The judges admired the project’s community engagement, large number of volunteering hours and strong social value contribution.

Highly commended

A highly commended award in this category was presented to Design and Construction of the new Maintenance Depot at Gosforth. This project was delivered by VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd, Arcadis and VokerRail Ltd for Stadler Rail Service UK Limited.

The judges said that this was an interesting project with sustainable transport at its core.

It involved significant logistics where the demolition of existing buildings had to be phased around continued operation of the facility.

Despite these challenges, the project was delivered one month ahead of the planned completion date.

It saved 63 tonnes of CO₂ through the re-use of materials and reduced vehicle movements, which led to a 53% cut in how much material had to be imported.

Individual awards

Outstanding individuals were also celebrated on the night.

STEM Ambassador of the Year Award

The ICE North East STEM Ambassador of the Year Award went to Zara Hussain from ZTL Contracting Ltd.

She has supported numerous STEM events during 2024, reaching nearly 2000 young people.

The judges were particularly impressed by Hussain’s enthusiasm, passion and focus on being an inspiring role model to children from different ages and backgrounds.

They felt she went above and beyond to deliver workshops, presentations, careers fairs, assemblies and a Girlguiding civil engineering day.

Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Champion Award, sponsored by Jacobs

The FIR Champion Award went to Richard Stelling from Sir Robert McAlpine.

The judges described Stelling as a leader with unwavering dedication to promoting equal opportunities. He exemplifies true allyship and stands firmly against discrimination.

Stelling was highly commended last year, and this year he has come back even stronger. His journey is a shining example of resilience and inclusivity.

As a mature student and an active advocate for inclusive workplaces, he has courageously shared his personal experiences at conferences and even on the radio.

In doing so, he has broken down barriers and become a powerful voice of support for other underrepresented groups.

One to watch

The highly commended award went to Julia Jambo from Stantec, an inspiring champion of inclusivity and diversity.

The judges said that her commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces shines brightly at her office, where she has significantly contributed to numerous diversity initiatives. She successfully organised the very first Black History Month event, leaving a lasting impact.

Furthermore, she played a pivotal role in establishing the first employee resource group for cultural and ethnic diversity (REACH) across Stantec's UK&I offices. This is a platform that celebrates diverse cultures, raises awareness of diversity, and drives meaningful change within the organisation.

Her efforts extend even further. She organised the Eid Mubarak celebration at her office, and she created and presented the first Latino-focused webinar across the UK&I, which attracted over 40 attendees.

Sustainability Champion Award, sponsored by Project Groundwater Northumbria

The Sustainability Champion Award went to Mariani de Mattos from Stantec.

Her unwavering passion and dedication to environmental improvement and sustainability have left an indelible mark, with inspiring examples of her work spanning Brazil and the UK.

Her influence is evident through her support of organisations such as British Water, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), and the International Water Association (IWA).

De Mattos has also spoken on nature-based solutions and other vital topics with clients and at industry events.

The glowing testimonials that accompanied her submission highlight her exceptional contributions and commitment to championing sustainability in the built environment.

The evening was supported by headline sponsor CDM Recruitment.

The chair’s chosen charity for this year’s dinner and awards was the Lighthouse Charity.

Learn more about the 2025 awards